The Murderer is Afraid at Night (French: L'assassin a peur la nuit) is a 1942 French crime drama film directed by Jean Delannoy and starring Mireille Balin, Jean Chevrier and Louise Carletti. A film noir it was shot at the Victorine Studios in Nice in Vichy-controlled France. The film's sets were designed by the art director Georges Wakhévitch. It may have also acted as an allegory for Occupied France to look forward to a future when it is free after its Liberation.
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Synopsis
In the South of France Olivier a professional burglar is on the run after a job goes wrong. He takes shelter in the countryside after befriending a quarry worker and has a romantic encounter with his sister Monique. However his former lover the vampish Lola, who he has robbed to support her materialistic demands, tracks him down and threatens to shoot him. He ultimately surrenders to the police in the knowledge that once he has served a spell in prison he can look forward to a future with Monique in which he is truly free.
Cast
Mireille Balin as Lola Gracieuse
Jean Chevrier as Olivier Rol
Louise Carletti as Monique
Henri Guisol as Bébé-Fakir
Georges Lannes as Paluaud
Pierrette Caillol as Émilienne
Charlotte Clasis as Monique and Gilbert's grandmother
Alexandre Fabry as Father Toine
Lucien Callamand as the manager of the "Petit Brummel"
Jacques Tarride as Joseph
Roland Pégurier as young Pierrot
Gilbert Gil as Gilbert
Jules Berry as Jérôme
Gisèle Alcée as Juliette